The History of the True Cross
The History of the True Cross or The Legend of the True Cross is a sequence of frescoes painted by Piero della Francesca in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo. Its theme, derived from the popular 13th century book on the lives of saints, the Golden Legend, is the triumph of the True Cross – the wood from the Garden of Eden that became the Cross on which Christ was crucified. This work demonstrates Piero’s advanced knowledge of perspective and colour, his geometric orderliness and skill in pictorial construction.
Piero diverged from his source material in a few important respects, including the story of King Solomon’s meeting with the Queen of Sheba in a chronologically inaccurate place and giving greater emphasis to the two battles in which Christianity triumphs over paganism. The main episodes depicted are The Death of Adam, The Discovery of the Sacred Wood and the Meeting of Solomon and Sheba, The Dream of Constantine, The Battle of Constantine, The Finding and Proving of the Cross, The Battle of Heraclius and The Exaltation of the Cross. The cycle ends with a depiction of the Annunciation, not strictly part of the Legend of the True Cross but probably included by Piero for its universal meaning.
Dating of the frescoes is uncertain, but they are believed to date from after 1447, when the Bacci family, commissioners of the frescoes, are recorded as having payed an unknown painter. Most of the choir was painted in the early- to mid-1450s. Although the design of the frescoes is evidently Piero’s, he seems to have delegated parts to untalented pupils. The hand of Giovanni da Piamonte, in particular, can be recognised in some of the frescoes.
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